Thuja plant named ‘SMTOYB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Thuja  plant named ‘SMTOYB’, characterized by its relatively compact and upright plant habit; narrow pyramidal plant form; vigorous growth habit; moderate to fast growth rate; dense and bushy form; bright yellow green-colored leaves; bright yellow green coloration maintained during the winter; and good winter hardiness and wind resistance.

Botanical designation: Thuja occidentalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMTOYB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Thuja plant, botanically known as Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as American Arborvitae and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SMTOYB’.

The new Thuja plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Thuja plants with a compact plant habit.

The new Thuja plant originated from an open-pollination during the spring of 2003 of the Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’, not patented, as the female, or seed parent and an unknown selection of Thuja occidentalis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Thuja plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor during the spring of 2007 as a plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new Thuja plant by hardwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since November, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Thuja plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Thuja have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMTOYB’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMTOYB’ as a new and distinct Thuja plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and upright plant habit; narrow pyramidal         plant form.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit; moderate to fast growth rate.     -   3. Dense and bushy form.     -   4. Bright yellow green-colored leaves; bright yellow green         coloration maintained during the winter.     -   5. Good winter hardiness and wind resistance.

Plants of the new Thuja can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Brandon’. Plants of the new Thuja differ primarily from plants of ‘Brandon’ in leaf color.

Plants of the new Thuja can be compared to plants of Thuja occidentalis, ‘Sunkist’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Thuja differed primarily from plants of ‘Sunkist’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Thuja grew faster than plants of ‘Sunkist’.     -   2. Plants of the new Thuja and ‘Sunkist’ differed in leaf color.     -   3. Plants of the new Thuja were more winter hardy and wind         resistant than plants of ‘Sunkist’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Thuja plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Thuja plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘SMTOYB’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘SMTOYB’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Thuja plant production. Plants were four years old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Thuja occidentalis ‘SMTOYB’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Thuja             occidentalis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 45 days at             temperatures about 10° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce rooted young plants, summer.—About six             months at temperatures about 10° C. to 27° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to fine, somewhat fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub;             relatively compact and upright plant habit and narrowly             pyramidal plant form; vigorous growth habit; moderate to             fast growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 2 meters.         -   Plant diameter, base.—About 1.25 meters.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with numerous             lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy             habit.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 35 cm. Diameter:             About 3.5 mm. Internode length: Less than 1 mm. Aspect: Main             branch, upright; lateral branches about 19° from stem axis.             Strength: Strong. Texture, developing branches: Scaly;             glabrous. Texture, main trunk: Woody. Color, developing             branches: Close to 167B. Color, developed branches: Close to             178A.         -   Leaf description.—Appearance and arrangement: Flattened and             closely appressed, scale-like; opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Shape: Ovate to             lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Venation pattern: Parallel. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Fragrance: Aromatic and cedar-like. Color: Developing and             fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 151C;             venation, close to 151C; bright yellow green coloration is             maintained during the winter. Developing and fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 151A; venation, close to             151A. -   Cone description: Cone development has not been observed on plants     of the new Thuja. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Thuja have been observed have     good garden performance, good winter hardiness, to be wind-tolerant     and to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −29° C. to about 39°     C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Thuja have been     observed to be resistant to root rot pathogens. Plants of the new     Thuja have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Thuja plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Thuja plant named ‘SMTOYB’ as illustrated and described. 